Over a thousand people came out to see some 36 male competitors from around the world compete during the Sarasota Bradenton 2014 Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final on Saturday at the Sarasota Polo Club. (Staff photo by Thomas Bender)

Hundreds of Sarasota-Bradenton area residents packed the grandstands at the Sarasota Polo Fields over the weekend, lathered in sunscreen and adorned in sun hats and sunglasses, to watch a sport that most had never witnessed.

The world cup final for Modern Pentathlon, an Olympic sport, showcased the top 36 male and 36 female athletes from around the world, all who competed for the top prize — outside of an Olympic Games medal — in Southwest Florida.

“Everything went extremely well. I don’t think anyone could have been happier with the results,” said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, the county’s tourism agency. “The officials who were here seemed very impressed with the facilities and how well the event went overall.”

But while at a few times computer software had to be tweaked — a seeding error in scoring programs being tested for the 2016 Olympics in fencing caused an hour-and-a-half delay Friday — one athlete said such issues are par for a course in such a long, complicated event.

“There’s always delays or something you have to deal with,” said the United States’ Samantha Achterberg. “Something goes wrong. A bus leaves with your bag.

This weekend marked the first of three Modern Pentathlon events taking place in Sarasota-Bradenton during the next three years, a series international officials hope will draw interest to the sport and to this region as a more permanent U.S. hub for future events.

The 2014 Modern Pentathlon athletes parade at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art during the opening ceremonies that kicked off the three day 2014 Modern Pentathlon World Cup Finals held in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch this weekend. (Staff photo / Thomas Bender)

In 2015, Sarasota-Bradenton will host a world cup event, and in 2016, a world cup final and the U.S. Olympic qualifying event for athletes aiming to compete in the 2016 Games in Brazil.

“The support of these communities coming together for this event was very, very special for us,” said Klaus Schormann, president of Union International de Pentathlon Modern. “It was organized beautifully. We had excellent horses, venues, accommodations, transportation, food and, of course, the weather. We also like so much the culture of Sarasota.

“It’s a win-win situation for us all.”

It was the first time in 40 years that an international pentathlon event has been held in the United States.

“Unequivocally, this was the best Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final ever held in the United States,” said Barry Marchett, chairman of the board for USA Pentathlon. “These Polo grounds are a world-class venue.”

Modern Pentathlon includes five phases of competition: running, shooting, fencing, swimming and equestrian show jumping.

Samantha Achterberg, from USA, competes in the riding portion of the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final Friday, June 6 at the Sarasota Polo Club. (June 5, 2014) (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Rachel S. O'Hara)

No athletes or horses were injured during the event. Despite the heat, there were no weather delays or interruptions, either.

The swimming and fencing components took place at the Selby Aquatic Center, and the show jumping, running and shooting events were held at the Sarasota Polo Club.

Most of the spectators turned out at the polo fields to watch the show jumping and combined running and shooting final event.

More than 25 million people in the U.S. are expected to watch the event. NBC Universal will broadcast the taped version of the event on June 23, USA Managing Director Rob Stull said.

Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne officials aired the competition overseas as well, with the potential for an audience of 125 million.

In March, pentathletes will return to the Sarasota-Bradenton area for another world cup event.

Officials are taking what they learned at this world cup final event — which drew a significantly smaller number of athletes — and said they will apply it to the world cup event next year.

Katherine Harris, a former U.S. congresswoman and Florida secretary of state, led the organizing efforts for the just-completed event.

“It was a lot of work to do in such little time, but it truly was a community effort and we are pleased and grateful that everyone enjoyed it,” Harris said.

Last modified: June 9, 2014
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